Chapter 11 A Desperate Search
The Empty House32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYVHqJQoy6N
Nick's heart pounded as he and Kyle pushed through the creaking doorway of the abandoned house. Dust swirled in the dim light filtering through broken windows, and the air was thick with decay.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HW4hF4JgX
"She was here," Kyle muttered, eyes scanning the overturned chair and the faint scuff marks on the wooden floor.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9C72mKPZ7
Nick didn't respond. He was too busy searching for something—anything—that would tell them where she'd been taken. His fists clenched. The idea of Chrissy being trapped here, terrified and alone, made his blood boil.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJEuNfINxM
Kyle knelt near the doorway, brushing his fingers against the floor. "Footsteps," he muttered. "Leading out." He stood, eyes meeting Nick's. "They took her into the woods."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgaWbNTq82
Nick's pulse jumped. Without another word, both of them bolted outside.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZezrMhZKw
The Cliffside32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3oJ8mMAdoe
The trail was erratic, leading them deeper into the dense trees, weaving between roots and rocks. When they finally broke through the forest, Nick skidded to a stop, heart hammering.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnidoGbC0kc
Kyle sucked in a breath beside him.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rQU0SfXkR
The path ended at a sheer cliff.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8COoEXDFKy
Nick's stomach twisted as he stepped forward, peering down at the jagged rocks below. The waves crashed violently against them, white foam churning in the restless water.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrI5lIBODv
Kyle exhaled sharply. "She jumped."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4PWARWH2z
Nick's throat tightened. "Then she's..."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTWw4lkYQF
Gone?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsetVQBlEsX
No. No way.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm08dGvuXCP
Kyle turned to him, eyes serious. "She's more like her mother than her father, Nick. She's a survivor."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4bVo9X7da
Nick swallowed hard, his heart warring between fear and hope.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIKHAxnhJl
If she had survived the fall... where was she now?32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGe041ezqE
The Ocean's Secret32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodOMXnluKn
Chrissy's body was weightless, suspended in the cool embrace of the ocean. She had been sinking, tumbling with the currents, but as her heart calmed, something strange happened.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52h8iiRKbP
She wasn't running out of air.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CMmy8msKE
Her lungs didn't burn.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nlwFEYctg
Instead, she felt... at peace.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiLWRZen6I
She opened her eyes, the sunlight filtering through the water in shimmering beams. And then—something caught her attention.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktMcDliP2Y
A glimmer in the sand below.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXUYxbbhbF
Kicking her feet, she swam downward, her fingers brushing against the object. It was a small, smooth piece of sea glass—its vibrant blue-green color glowing faintly. It reminded her of the compass she'd found in the hidden cave.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBxdZoRldr
Her fingers closed around it, and a strange warmth pulsed through her palm.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0ObKgsnNN
She didn't have time to think about what it meant. She needed to get back.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIq3EQStcl
Turning, she propelled herself toward the one place she knew she'd be safe.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5gZ9SL7VK3
The cave.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFR4HqVxnT
Maddie's Jealousy32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFGlhc954b
Back at the book nook, Maddie sat in a chair near the counter, pretending to read while keeping her ears open. She watched as Nick and Kyle stormed back in, their faces tight with frustration.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy3xdArXnx
"She's gone," Nick muttered, raking a hand through his hair. "We checked everywhere."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6joT7n3Dv
Kyle exhaled, glancing out the window. "Then where is she?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgss4Niji24
Maddie's stomach twisted. The way they were acting—so desperate to find Chrissy—it made her insides burn.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrF96F2E92A
Nick didn't care that Maddie was sitting right there. He turned to Kyle with barely controlled panic. "She's out there somewhere. We need to think."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHstmTGhXV
Maddie's grip on her book tightened.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLcpScO2t4
She bit the inside of her cheek, jealousy rising like bile. Why did everything have to revolve around Chrissy? Why did Nick always put her first? And Kyle—he wasn't much better. He acted so indifferent, but he always showed up when she needed saving.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuEJ2L20OO
Maddie clenched her jaw. It wasn't fair.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtkndy0yoS
Chrissy had two guys willing to go to the ends of the earth for her. Maddie had no one.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cAAcJ7iM9
It wasn't just about the boys, though. It was about what Chrissy represented. The power. The mystery. The attention.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVIPJ5PHvr
And Maddie was getting sick of it.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnB8BEftju
Nick's Realization32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzFxlbgjUV
Nick paced, his mind racing. If she wasn't at the lighthouse, the book nook, or anywhere in town...32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBzxiiYDMFt
His hands curled into fists.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBd6bs4tDQr
She was somewhere safe.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3mO9l8Yd7C
And there was only one place where no one else could find her.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJprcEDphtG
His stomach clenched.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1S7HJqCP3r
"The cave."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8SeTwo0Bm
Kyle's head snapped up. "What?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7cOlKygsH
Nick exhaled sharply, trying to mask his urgency. "I think I know where she is."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYGWgpB5oy
Kyle's eyes narrowed. "Then let's go."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJFeZFPaxG
Nick hesitated.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5RIZtKi9R
If Kyle went with him... and he found Chrissy first...32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBFOF5VOc6
He didn't let himself finish the thought.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiR04ZwI2LY
"I'll meet you there," Nick said abruptly, turning toward the door.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhJG5yfjJS
Before Kyle could argue, Maddie stepped in front of him, arms crossed. "Where are you going?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMefDZ577kQ
Nick narrowed his eyes. Not now.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwmurxRMbr
He forced his voice to stay even. "Kyle and I have one more place to check."32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkva3T6234b
Maddie's gaze flickered with suspicion. "Where?"32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ235JZEynGE
Nick didn't answer. Instead, he pushed past her and walked straight out of the book nook before she could pry any further.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkN4rdNRJh
He didn't stop.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iXllzyLnN
Didn't look back.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzJthOS81R
Because every second he wasted here...32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDvxTl7MCo
Was a second Chrissy was alone in that cave.32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5mcHgv3Iy
32Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqbwt2JaQv
And he wasn't going to let her stay alone.
ns160.79.110.43da2
and then Add to home screen.